Recent observations of late find me in an interesting frame of mind today. It seems that I cannot comment about someone without someone, or many someone's, having to throw President Obama into the conversation and although I am used to that happening after all my years on the radio and defending the positions I have come to learn, embrace and defend, I do tire from not just having to defend those positions but from the utter frustration that people can't seem to allow one argument to stand alone.
My column about Sarah Palin yesterday drew expected response by both sides and as expected many of those who opposed my premise on Ms. Palin had to force the Obama card on me. What's the Obama card? Well, that is a moving target but because of the masterful way the Republicans owned the media message over the past two years, and mostly because the Democrats allowed them to, much to their own demise, I'll once again remind people that where you get your information is as important as IF you get information.
Now, and I mean this with respect, I know many of my contemporaries on the other side of my positions have a political bent and they feel compelled to defend those position at all cost. I don't feel drawn to that philosophy mostly because in all the years I was in radio I had to know both sides of an issue in order to be articulate and be informed on any issue, so for occupational reasons mostly I come to this fight with a different skill set than most. With that explanation I would like to answer the latest Obama charge that in his two years in office President Obama has accomplished nothing. This idea is solidly seated in the idea promoted by Republicans of the 111th Congress and even though not true, the idea seems to be alive and well and living in America, so without further adieu allow me to present a PARTIAL list of accomplishments of President Obama and then a few parting remarks so I can move on from this issue for the last time.
Under Obama:
- Signing the SALT Treaty
- Massive Wall Street reform
- The Stimulus Bill (TARP)
- Fair Pay Act allowing for equal pay for women
- Hate Crimes Prevention Act
- Allowing the FDA to regulate tobacco
- Reformed the Student Loan program saving millions of people millions of dollars
- The humane Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell
- The extension of unemployment benefits
- Health Care Reform
- There have been more jobs created in the last two years under President Obama than under the eight years of George W. Bush
- We are paying the lowest taxes than we have in 60 years
- Tax Credit for new Home Buyers
- Cash for Clunkers that basically reignited the auto industry
Most modern day historians have stated that President Obama has effected more change in his first two years than in all the years of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush combined and even though I will recognize that we might not agree that some of these reforms were accomplishments, they are no matter how you slice it. Either by Party line vote or majority vote this president has successfully created change that matters and he has done all of that while being constantly criticized and cajoled from both sides of the aisle. I say that's progress.
One note of caution: if you feel hell bent of taking me to task on this list let me remind you I have factual data that proves the benefit of every single issue on that list and will not tolerate uttering that are obvious talking points of the Republican Party; so save that pabulum for someone else, say your like minded friends perhaps.
At a time where winning your talking point seems more important than truth I have finally drawn a line in the sand. Enough already. Let's start talking facts and stop worrying about what Party is winning and start celebrating that America is winning. Of course as I type this I wonder how many of my detractors have even read to this point.
I think it's great that George W. Bush supported a national law on minimum wage shocking the Republican world, but he did do that and I gave him props for that, so you see I am not a total partisan. I know Republicans do good things too and when they do I write about it, honestly I do.
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